A recent report alleges the Connecticut Department of Correction failed to properly act to address allegations that prisoners have been subjected to sexual abuse by correction officers at the state’s only women’s correctional center.
The findings of the four-year investigation are outlined in a 26-page report by Disability Rights Connecticut — a statewide nonprofit organization that advocates for people with disabilities. The organization is calling for the DOC to make a number of changes and for legislative action.
The report alleges that the DOC has not done enough to protect women from correctional staff and failed to address “blind spots” in York Correctional Institution, leaving areas of the facility that are hidden from camera view. It also contends that the department lacks “timely and comprehensive sexual abuse incident reviews.”
“Our comprehensive investigation has made it abundantly clear that the Department of Correction has allowed sexual abuse to continue, year after year, despite knowing it was happening,” Rachel Mirsky, supervising attorney for DRCT, said. “Our findings outline multiple violations of DOC policy and violations of state and federal law. We’ve outlined a series of recommendations that require immediate action by both legislators and the DOC to put an end to serious systemic sexual abuse.”
“Although agency administrators are still reviewing the final version of the report, the Connecticut Department of Correction has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual assault/sexual harassment of any individual under its supervision,” a spokesperson for the DOC said when reached for comment.
“The agency’s Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Unit thoroughly and objectively investigates allegations of sexual abuse in accordance with federal standards. If allegations of abuse are substantiated, violators are subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment and/or criminal prosecution.”
The investigation, which began in November 2021 in response to several complaints filed with the DRCT, allegedly found that “several” staff members sexually abused prisoners at York Correctional Institution. According to the nonprofit, three officers are currently under investigation and are assigned to “restricted posts” requiring either “reduced or no inmate contact.” Four former officers were charged and later convicted of sexual assault-related charges, the investigation found. Two others were charged but were granted diversionary programs, the report alleges.
Additionally, two officers were investigated by the Connecticut State Police and were not charged but later resigned, the report said. An additional officer was reportedly fired by the DOC, the report said.
According to the report, the investigation found that some officers allegedly abused more than one inmate and that some inmates were sexually assaulted by more than one officer. Many of the incidents allegedly occurred during third-shift hours, when staffing is typically reduced, the report said.
One victim alleges that a DOC officer fathered her child, who was later put up for adoption, the report said.
The investigation involved interviews, record and policy reviews and 13 in-person visits to York Correctional Institution. The records that were reviewed included over 150 incident reports from 2019 to 2025.
The report alleges that “the DOC engages in systemic practices which violate the Constitutional rights of women with serious mental illness incarcerated at the York Correctional Institution” and that the DOC “has failed to address these issues.” Without correction and oversight, “these systemic issues will likely continue, resulting in more individuals being sexually abused,” the nonprofit wrote.
According to the report, the DOC since “at least” 2016 has been aware of blind spots at York Correctional Institution, which reportedly includes a laundry unit, mop closets, the North Dorm in the East Compound and an officers’ mess area. In December 2023, a contractor’s proposal to the department allegedly recommended installing 63 cameras and replacing 10 existing ones. As of yet, the DRCT wrote in its report, it has not been confirmed that any of the cameras recommended as part of the project — which would cost about $354,000 — have been installed.
The investigation also allegedly found that the DOC “systemically fails to conduct timely investigative reviews and remedial actions to safeguard women from sexual abuse.” On six occasions, the investigation allegedly found that incident reviews involving allegations of sexual abuse committed by correction staff against prisoners were completed more than 30 days after the conclusion of each investigation — which the report contends goes against DOC policy and violates federal mandates under the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
One of the reviews was allegedly completed nearly seven months “overdue” and another allegedly was done more than 3 ½ years after the investigation concluded, the report said. The investigation identified an additional 11 alleged sexual abuse incidents lacked incident reviews altogether.
In its report, the DRTC has called for the DOC to carry out the 2023 camera proposal to remedy those issues and to issue quarterly reports on all sexual abuse and harassment allegations. The reports, the nonprofit said, should be provided to the Connecticut Office of Correction Ombudsman for public release.
The nonprofit is also calling for legislative action, asking that the language in state statutes regarding stiffer penalties for sexual assault convictions be expanded beyond someone with “supervisory or disciplinary authority” over the victim to include anyone who is “employed or contracted by an agency, hospital or institution.” The DRTC is also calling for the nine-month minimum mandatory prison sentence associated with second-degree sexual assault convictions to be upped to a two-year prison term.
“This report contains very serious findings and allegations against the Department of Correction,” said state Sen. John A. Kissel, ranking senator on the Judiciary Committee, in a statement. “One of the utmost priorities of the department needs to be ensuring the safety and wellness of all those within our facilities — incarcerated persons, DOC staff and visitors. I plan on meeting with DOC leadership to review the contents of this report and verify that the department is and will be taking the remedial steps necessary to prevent abuses in all of our facilities, particularly at York.”